CALGARY – Your first NHL start is a milestone, as is your first win, and your first winning streak.
But what Dustin Wolf experienced Monday made it all but official he is an NHL goaltender:
He was scored on by Alex Ovechkin.
Twice.
First, on a net-front redirect with the man-advantage no netminder could have stopped.
Three minutes later he got the full Ovi Experience, as the man destined to be the game’s most prolific goal scorer was fed a one-timer in his office that the Russian blasted in off a defenceman on the power play.
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A student of the game, Wolf did well to anticipate Ovechkin’s trademarked slapper, but had little chance on the two goals that were the difference in the game.
Just 11 games into a career that has the city buzzing, Wolf joined a club that is now 174 members strong.
No shame there.
“Ya, well, I’m sure there will be a couple more,” chuckled Ovechkin’s latest victim, following a 5-2 loss to Washington Monday.
“It’s pretty special to play against a guy like that.
“Obviously didn’t get the result, but that was pretty fun.
“I think he only really had one or two good opportunities, and the one happened to hit Ras’s (Rasmus Andersson’s) stick and go upstairs. But that’s a hell of a hockey player over there.
“It’s pretty cool to say you stopped a few.”
The loss put a halt to Wolf’s two-game winning streak, which had seen him stop 64 of 67 shots to start the debate over whether the Flames should simply let the youngster run most of the table in the final 14 games.
That won’t happen.
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Wolf’s fifth call-up of the season is expected to end any day now, as coach Ryan Huska said earlier in the day Jacob Markstrom would be skating all week and is expected to return from a lower-body injury in time to start Saturday in Vancouver.
Because Wolf was in town as an emergency call-up for the veteran, the youngster will then have to be returned to the Wranglers as soon as Markstrom gets the thumbs up.
That won’t make many Flames fans happy, as many feel the team’s extinguished playoff hopes (they’re eight points back of a wild card spot with 14 games left) should signal a lengthy run for Wolf to continue building his resume and confidence.
That may eventually be the case, but not this weekend when the Flames play next.
Asked how he’ll look back on his latest stint in the bigs, Wolf was upbeat.
“I think I’ll be pretty pleased,” said Wolf, who stopped 28 of 32 shots.
“Reps, and I had a few outstanding outings, and definitely some things to build on and a few areas you can always improve.”
Under a microscope by virtue of his six-foot, 166-pound frame, Wolf’s latest outing with the Flames was a slight departure from the stellar showings he put on his previous 120 minutes.
The Capitals’ opening goal from Dylan Strome 15 minutes in was the kind he has to have.
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As Strome set up at the top of the circle with plenty of time to shoot, Wolf had time to square up and get set to stop a shot with no traffic in front of him.
He was beaten cleanly on the glove side on a shot much bigger goalies likely would’ve taken away with their size.
We’ll give him a pass on both Ovechkin goals, as the man chasing Gretzky’s record of 894 snipes made no mistake on either finish.
Hendrix Lapierre’s golf shot out of the air from in tight was also a toughie to stop.
“I thought he was okay,” was coach Ryan Huska, who was then asked if Wolf’s size was a factor in any of the goals.
“Hey listen, that’s going to be the narrative all the time.
“One was deflected, one was a back door tap-in and I think the first one he would probably want to have back.”
Sure would.
For the record, The Great Eight now has 21 goals, giving the man chasing Gretzky’s 894 goals 19-straight seasons with at least 20.
He now has 843, with his first coming when Wolf was three years old.
By night’s end, the 38-year-old greybeard had five of the Capitals’ shots in a game that moved them into the most surprising wild card spot in the league with their third-straight win.
He was the difference, and Wolf was the game’s second-best netminder, as Charlie Lindgren made 34 saves.
“Give that guy credit, he made some outstanding saves,” said Wolf.
“They’ve got some skilled forwards over there, and obviously a guy who is chasing history who had a couple.
“Again, I learned a lesson for myself and the group.”
